Even the most coiffed hair is seen as unkempt. That’s why I have no intention in working in Corporate America.

I had an interview with a start-up just days ago (got the gig yay!), and my mother solemnly came into my room as I was getting ready, and closed the door behind her. I thought uh oh did an emergency happen?

I told my mother I can’t hide who I am, so I don’t want my future boss shocked when I show up to work looking different than I was at the interview. I told her my work speaks for itself, they shouldn’t care what I look like. And if they do, I don’t want to work for them.

http://www.iriseben.wordpress.com Iris_Eben

Even the most coiffed hair is seen as unkempt. That’s why I have no intention in working in Corporate America.

I had an interview with a start-up just days ago (got the gig yay!), and my mother solemnly came into my room as I was getting ready, and closed the door behind her. I thought uh oh did an emergency happen?

I told my mother I can’t hide who I am, so I don’t want my future boss shocked when I show up to work looking different than I was at the interview. I told her my work speaks for itself, they shouldn’t care what I look like. And if they do, I don’t want to work for them.

Adriennebrailsford

Umm I work for a fortune 500 company- a leader in both brand and industry. I am a colorful dressing, natural hair having, new York accented (fast and direct speaking) person working in the super suburbs of socal. My director offered me a permanent position with the company on a casual Friday when I had a super blow out (floppy Afro) jeans, chucks and a African American baseball throw back jacket. My director is a super white dude with perfectly coiffed hair and thinks casual means taking off his jacket and unbuttoning the top button. Most of the office wears the black or grey bottoms with the button up top, straight hair with smart highlights. I am enjoying color popping this season, I wear wash and gos, protective styling buns, twists twist outs and 2nd and 3rd day hair. I get more compliments and confidence from my coworkers and work leaders than I do from people who look like me. There is an element of adapting to the environment. When you volunteer to work for a company you are agreeing to represent for them, not yourself. It is what it is. Choose a company you fit most with so that the adaptation is not so painful. But, a lot of the time, it’s not your outfit that messes up the opportunity. It is the attitude exuded off of the person wearing it. It’s the expectation that you are not going to be accepted. It’s the possibility that the individual gives off a negative vibe. Because a wonderfully styled outfit, even if it’s not your taste can say wow look at the attention to detail, look at the thought, the creativity, or it can say I spend a lot of time on myself, it’s all about me…. So it’s how the wearer presents it.

Adriennebrailsford

Umm I work for a fortune 500 company- a leader in both brand and industry. I am a colorful dressing, natural hair having, new York accented (fast and direct speaking) person working in the super suburbs of socal. My director offered me a permanent position with the company on a casual Friday when I had a super blow out (floppy Afro) jeans, chucks and a African American baseball throw back jacket. My director is a super white dude with perfectly coiffed hair and thinks casual means taking off his jacket and unbuttoning the top button. Most of the office wears the black or grey bottoms with the button up top, straight hair with smart highlights. I am enjoying color popping this season, I wear wash and gos, protective styling buns, twists twist outs and 2nd and 3rd day hair. I get more compliments and confidence from my coworkers and work leaders than I do from people who look like me. There is an element of adapting to the environment. When you volunteer to work for a company you are agreeing to represent for them, not yourself. It is what it is. Choose a company you fit most with so that the adaptation is not so painful. But, a lot of the time, it’s not your outfit that messes up the opportunity. It is the attitude exuded off of the person wearing it. It’s the expectation that you are not going to be accepted. It’s the possibility that the individual gives off a negative vibe. Because a wonderfully styled outfit, even if it’s not your taste can say wow look at the attention to detail, look at the thought, the creativity, or it can say I spend a lot of time on myself, it’s all about me…. So it’s how the wearer presents it.

Lola

Yeah, but what is is that you do?

Desta

Thank you Cipriana. What an interesting question! I work in Private Banking and am pretty much a free spirit when it comes to dress code but still reckon that in my business, you have to dress a certain way to look professional and be taken seriously.
When it comes to hair, I do confirm that natural hair are not close to be accepted as normal hair in the corporate world and my belief is that this is indeed xenophobia = fear of that which is foreign. Natural hair is, for some reasons not compatible with highly educated and skilled professional. Working for a company implies agreeing with its values and etiquette but what does natural hair project in people’s'mind to be alsmost banned. I am tempted to say that Adriennebrailsford’s'experience is an exception but am no statistician. Although the natural hair community has made progress, I still feel that wearing natural hair is somehow only permitted to self-made women, artists, singer, dj etc… But not quite permitted to First Ladies (cf M.O – Although “yes she could” and cf most, if not ALL African First Ladies), CEOs of successful international businesses NOT related to hair or cosmetics etc…
No later than last week, at a diversity event for Black Corporate Women, I asked to our panelists (5 successful women, two of which were rockin twists and sisterlocks respectively) if they ever thought that wearing natural hair could jeopardize their career.
Answer 1: When I attend EU (and like) committees, I have to say that I press my hair
Answer 2: I decided to do sisterlocks once I reached a position of power and it became my strength
The 3 other panelist did not answer –>Taboo?
Long story short, I believe the reason why natural hair is taboo in some corporate companies is because there are not enough role models, powerful respectful women wearing natural hair. We all have a responsibility at our individual level and should be setting the standards.

Aqua

I strongly disagree. It is how you wear your hair not its texture. The most powerful black female CEO (arguably, most powerful black CEO period) is natural and rocking a TWA (Ursula Burns at Xerox). She has been rocking it for years, even before becoming the CEO or being on the CEO path.

I am natural in a pretty conservative, overwhelmingly white, financial services firm. I rock wash & gos and buns. I have not had any problems from my non-black colleagues or bosses. I may get the random compliment, but for the most part they don’t seem to notice. The few black people at my firm, especially the women, are a whole other matter. But, I am not mad at them. I know they speak out of love and concern. The only problem is they are stuck in the 80s when everyone else has moved into 2011.

If your hair is neat, no one is bothering you. We had a white intern last year that had messy hair. She was asked by HR, at the request of my boss, to be more diligent in her appearance. There is no conspiracy against black hair. But, if you believe there is, you’ll bring that attitude, which will NOT serve you well.

Desta

How do you define neat hair?

Aqua

I define neat hair the same way I define neat clothes. Hair that is presentable and is not a distraction. I didn’t want to bring this up because I don’t want to muddy the issue, but we have an intern THIS year with natural hair. Her hair is in twists that look terrible. My night time twists look much neater than her daytime twists. If there was any line demarcation between the twists, they are all gone now. No one is going to tell her about it. I am sure no one will mention it to HR either, she just wouldn’t get a fulltime offer. I betting if any asks her to neaten her hair, she’ll accuse them of not liking natural hair despite the fact about a third of the black women there have natural hair. About half of them in twists. She is not in my group so I am going to mind my business. I have been bitten one too many times acting under the assumption that as black people we have each other’s backs. I now mind my business. If she is assigned to me as a mentee, than I will mention it. We’ll see.

Kerle

I too instantly thought of Ursula Burns as I read the responses!

Malembe

I agree that expecting a negative reaction to natural kinky hair in the workplace is not the way to go. If more powerful black women showed themselves rocking natural hairstyles, none of us would ever worry about the texture- it’s all about having it neat!
However, I would not think of Ursula Burns as a role model, at least not for me. She has had the same twa for as long as i can remember, and the shape of it reminds me of a guy’s “acceptable” haircut. If her twa was round, or if her hair was shorter, I would think that she “rocks” her twa. I don’t know if you get what I am saying…
Anyways, it’s all about the vibes we give off

Desta

Thank you Cipriana. What an interesting question! I work in Private Banking and am pretty much a free spirit when it comes to dress code but still reckon that in my business, you have to dress a certain way to look professional and be taken seriously.
When it comes to hair, I do confirm that natural hair are not close to be accepted as normal hair in the corporate world and my belief is that this is indeed xenophobia = fear of that which is foreign. Natural hair is, for some reasons not compatible with highly educated and skilled professional. Working for a company implies agreeing with its values and etiquette but what does natural hair project in people’s'mind to be alsmost banned. I am tempted to say that Adriennebrailsford’s'experience is an exception but am no statistician. Although the natural hair community has made progress, I still feel that wearing natural hair is somehow only permitted to self-made women, artists, singer, dj etc… But not quite permitted to First Ladies (cf M.O – Although “yes she could” and cf most, if not ALL African First Ladies), CEOs of successful international businesses NOT related to hair or cosmetics etc…
No later than last week, at a diversity event for Black Corporate Women, I asked to our panelists (5 successful women, two of which were rockin twists and sisterlocks respectively) if they ever thought that wearing natural hair could jeopardize their career.
Answer 1: When I attend EU (and like) committees, I have to say that I press my hair
Answer 2: I decided to do sisterlocks once I reached a position of power and it became my strength
The 3 other panelist did not answer –>Taboo?
Long story short, I believe the reason why natural hair is taboo in some corporate companies is because there are not enough role models, powerful respectful women wearing natural hair. We all have a responsibility at our individual level and should be setting the standards.

Aqua

I strongly disagree. It is how you wear your hair not its texture. The most powerful black female CEO (arguably, most powerful black CEO period) is natural and rocking a TWA (Ursula Burns at Xerox). She has been rocking it for years, even before becoming the CEO or being on the CEO path.

I am natural in a pretty conservative, overwhelmingly white, financial services firm. I rock wash & gos and buns. I have not had any problems from my non-black colleagues or bosses. I may get the random compliment, but for the most part they don’t seem to notice. The few black people at my firm, especially the women, are a whole other matter. But, I am not mad at them. I know they speak out of love and concern. The only problem is they are stuck in the 80s when everyone else has moved into 2011.

If your hair is neat, no one is bothering you. We had a white intern last year that had messy hair. She was asked by HR, at the request of my boss, to be more diligent in her appearance. There is no conspiracy against black hair. But, if you believe there is, you’ll bring that attitude, which will NOT serve you well.

Desta

How do you define neat hair?

Aqua

I define neat hair the same way I define neat clothes. Hair that is presentable and is not a distraction. I didn’t want to bring this up because I don’t want to muddy the issue, but we have an intern THIS year with natural hair. Her hair is in twists that look terrible. My night time twists look much neater than her daytime twists. If there was any line demarcation between the twists, they are all gone now. No one is going to tell her about it. I am sure no one will mention it to HR either, she just wouldn’t get a fulltime offer. I betting if any asks her to neaten her hair, she’ll accuse them of not liking natural hair despite the fact about a third of the black women there have natural hair. About half of them in twists. She is not in my group so I am going to mind my business. I have been bitten one too many times acting under the assumption that as black people we have each other’s backs. I now mind my business. If she is assigned to me as a mentee, than I will mention it. We’ll see.

Jenny

Sometimes people have frizzy hair which just does not behave like you want it to. Hairstyle that is out of the norm will always be distracting. How is your criticism of this intern’s hair any different from people criticizing natural hair? The amount of time and money to be spent on hair should be an individual’s personal decision. If the company provides free hair treatment and also compensates for the extra time you need to devote for that then it’s kind of fair. It should be kept in mind that everyone wants nice-looking hair. There must be some reason why they choose to keep it the way it is. Usually it’s because they are fed up of chemicals or the expense or the time. Why the corporate world is so obsessed with appearances I will never be able to understand.

Kerle

I too instantly thought of Ursula Burns as I read the responses!

Malembe

I agree that expecting a negative reaction to natural kinky hair in the workplace is not the way to go. If more powerful black women showed themselves rocking natural hairstyles, none of us would ever worry about the texture- it’s all about having it neat!
However, I would not think of Ursula Burns as a role model, at least not for me. She has had the same twa for as long as i can remember, and the shape of it reminds me of a guy’s “acceptable” haircut. If her twa was round, or if her hair was shorter, I would think that she “rocks” her twa. I don’t know if you get what I am saying…
Anyways, it’s all about the vibes we give off

http://twitter.com/divalocity Vonmiwi Culvera

Natural hair is no longer taboo in corporate America and probably never was, it’s just in the mind-sets of those who think it is. People are judged by their abilities and what they can bring to the table, they are more than the hair on their heads. The only people who have a problem with natural hair in any work-setting is other black people. That’s been my issue and I’m sure it’s been the same for others. I guess if Ursula Burns concentrated simply on her hair she wouldn’t be the CEO of Xerox.

Rohais

Back in the late 80′s and 90′s when I was fresh in Corporate America, my hair was “natural” and I had no problems whatsoever. I guess it depends on the confidence of the person - To be honest with you I never thought much of it. One Sunday I just got up and decided to chop my hair off into an Afro and went to work with it, and no one said a word, and I didn’t feel anyway about it. I didn’t feel any negative vibes, or get any snide remarks.

http://twitter.com/divalocity Vonmiwi Culvera

Natural hair is no longer taboo in corporate America and probably never was, it’s just in the mind-sets of those who think it is. People are judged by their abilities and what they can bring to the table, they are more than the hair on their heads. The only people who have a problem with natural hair in any work-setting is other black people. That’s been my issue and I’m sure it’s been the same for others. I guess if Ursula Burns concentrated simply on her hair she wouldn’t be the CEO of Xerox.

Rohais

Back in the late 80′s and 90′s when I was fresh in Corporate America, my hair was “natural” and I had no problems whatsoever. I guess it depends on the confidence of the person - To be honest with you I never thought much of it. One Sunday I just got up and decided to chop my hair off into an Afro and went to work with it, and no one said a word, and I didn’t feel anyway about it. I didn’t feel any negative vibes, or get any snide remarks.

Feiticeirarx

I did my big chop about 2 weeks ago and just returned to work this week from a great vacation. I was definitely a little nervous about revealing my new hair style to my co-workers (my work environment is definitely corporate and you never know what people might think or say) but luckily, they all seemed to love it and even said that it suited me very well. And so, I think that as long as you take care of your natural hair, there’s no reason that it can’t look just as fabulous as relaxed hair. If there’s still a stigma about natural hair in the corporate world, I’m glad that I work for a company that doesn’t seem to mind whether my hair is natural or relaxed.

Feiticeirarx

I did my big chop about 2 weeks ago and just returned to work this week from a great vacation. I was definitely a little nervous about revealing my new hair style to my co-workers (my work environment is definitely corporate and you never know what people might think or say) but luckily, they all seemed to love it and even said that it suited me very well. And so, I think that as long as you take care of your natural hair, there’s no reason that it can’t look just as fabulous as relaxed hair. If there’s still a stigma about natural hair in the corporate world, I’m glad that I work for a company that doesn’t seem to mind whether my hair is natural or relaxed.

Blackdoll24

I am currently debating this idea with myself at the moment. I have had Micro braids for 6 years which i do myself. Every time I redo I treat my natural afro to an aloe vera treatment and love in for several hours before i rebraid again. each time I have bonded with it and feel im putting it back into a closet to hide.
Whilst i have this feeling, I believe i wont be confident enough to wear it natural in the workplace. My job is management within a Construction consultantcy firm in th UK. Black people aren’t represented like those in the US and a minority have jobs at my level and position, I love my job and my hair, but to keep distractions awat from my appearance, my hair stays in braids – a level of natural they can deal with.

My natural hair has grown very long and with my 30th B’day coming up next April I am currently considering, after many hours trailing through you tube…..keeping it natural and flat itoning when needed.

In my line of work being a woman is a setback, being black is unusual, being black and with a natural fro! Now that would be original. Jsut need to balls to go the whole way!

Blackdoll24

I am currently debating this idea with myself at the moment. I have had Micro braids for 6 years which i do myself. Every time I redo I treat my natural afro to an aloe vera treatment and love in for several hours before i rebraid again. each time I have bonded with it and feel im putting it back into a closet to hide.
Whilst i have this feeling, I believe i wont be confident enough to wear it natural in the workplace. My job is management within a Construction consultantcy firm in th UK. Black people aren’t represented like those in the US and a minority have jobs at my level and position, I love my job and my hair, but to keep distractions awat from my appearance, my hair stays in braids – a level of natural they can deal with.

My natural hair has grown very long and with my 30th B’day coming up next April I am currently considering, after many hours trailing through you tube…..keeping it natural and flat itoning when needed.

In my line of work being a woman is a setback, being black is unusual, being black and with a natural fro! Now that would be original. Jsut need to balls to go the whole way!

Chioma Amaechi12

I am a student at the University of
California, Berkeley and I am working on a research proposal regarding black
hair politics in corporate America. I am looking for mainly African American
women who have or are currently working in the corporate field to participate
by answering weekly questions (4-5 weeks) around the topic of black hair. This
discussion will challenge you to think about concepts that you may or may not
think about, which, in return, will build on your awareness and educate others
and me about real life experiences. Join me in my journey of enlightenment and
make your voice heard. Thank You.https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9BJg_QOTUPg_8GyNyYhxaw?feature=mhee
or email chioma.amaechi12@gmail.com

Chioma Amaechi12

I am a student at the University of
California, Berkeley and I am working on a research proposal regarding black
hair politics in corporate America. I am looking for mainly African American
women who have or are currently working in the corporate field to participate
by answering weekly questions (4-5 weeks) around the topic of black hair. This
discussion will challenge you to think about concepts that you may or may not
think about, which, in return, will build on your awareness and educate others
and me about real life experiences. Join me in my journey of enlightenment and
make your voice heard. Thank You.https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9BJg_QOTUPg_8GyNyYhxaw?feature=mhee
or email chioma.amaechi12@gmail.com

Deprina Godboldo

I think it depends on the Company and the manager over it. Some react some don’t

Deprina Godboldo

I think it depends on the Company and the manager over it. Some react some don’t

Nicole Lane

I have the same experience as adriennebrailsford. My coworkers who do not look like me have been the most supportive! I even inspired one of our SVPs to stop straightening her hair daily and she is not African-American. It’s all about your attitude and your work ethic. I would not recommend wearing the Diana Ross afro to the office but there are plenty of options.